UPDATE: Court orders temporary forfeiture of jewellery, gold iPhone worth $40m found in Diezani’s house

A Federal High Court, Lagos has ordered temporary forfeiture of 2,149 pieces of expensive jewellery and a customised gold iPhone, valued at $40m, belonging to a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke.

Justice Nicholas Oweibo ordered that the items should be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government.

The Judge made the order after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought an ex parte application before the court.

The application was filed and argued by EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo.

The application which was titled action in rem, had Diezani as the only defendant.

The EFCC said in the application that it found and recovered the jewellery and the customised gold iPhone on the premises of the respondent, while adding that it reasonably suspected that the former minister acquired them with “proceeds of unlawful activities.”

Part of the expensive jewellery includes: Expensive: Bangles, 419, rings 315, earrings 304, necklace 264, wristwatches 189, set of necklace and earrings 174, briocges 77, pendants 74, cufflinks 17

Further hearing has been adjourned till August 13